Mandalyn Starkovich, right, and Kristen Marshall wait for a hearing on Senate Bill 2 to come up in front of the House Judiciary Committee at the State Capitol in Denver, CO, May 03, 2012. The Colorado Civil Union Act recently passed the Senate with bipartisan support. The bill would allow same sex couple to enter into civil union. Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post

The outcome of a civil-unions bill in the House Finance Committee this afternoon could come down to a Broomfield Republican who today praised a colleague for her “courageous” vote in getting the measure out of another committee.

Rep. Don Beezley hasn’t said how he would vote on the bill, but prior to the session this morning, Beezley walked up to Rep. B.J. Nikkel, R-Loveland, and gave her a big hug.

She cast the deciding vote Thursday that resulted in the House Judiciary Committee passing Senate Bill 2.

“I think B.J. did the greatest thing politically,” he said. “She voted her conscience. I thought that was very courageous.”

But it’s unclear whether the bill will survive its Finance hearing. Republicans hold a 33-32 majority in the House, translating to a 7-6 majority on Finance. The committee chairman voted against civil unions in Judiciary, and four Republicans on Finance said today they are solid “no” votes.

Drama enveloped the bill today because of scheduling concerns. The legislature must adjourn by midnight Wednesday, which means the bill has to be debated by Tuesday or it dies.

Supporters accused Republicans of playing politics by not immediately scheduling a Finance Committee hearing, but GOP leaders questioned why Democrats waited so long to send the bill over from the Senate.

If the Finance Committee passes the bill, it still has to go to Appropriations before it could go to the entire floor.

“It’s moving forward and I’m feeling good,” said House Minority Leader Mark Ferrandino Ferrandino, D-Denver. “We have a path of getting this to the governor’s desk. It’s true the path could still be blocked, but we’re in the best position we’ve ever been in.”

Gov. John Hickenlooper said today he thinks the House should debate civil unions, but getting it out of Finance won’t be easy considering how Republicans feel about the measure.

The committee chairman, Rep. Brian DelGrosso of Loveland, voted against the civil-unions bill in Judiciary.

Reps. Keith Swerdfeger of Pueblo and Janak Joshi of Colorado Springs said today they lean “no,” but will listen to the testimony.

Other Republicans on the committee are Cindy Acree of Aurora, Kathleen Conti of Littleton and Spencer Swalm of Centennial. They all said they opposed the bill.

Conti said when a civil-unions bill was introduced last year, she polled her constituents and they were opposed. Acree said the measure includes words such as “spouse,” leaving her to believe it’s a step toward gay marriage.”

House rules were constantly cited today. The chairman of House Judiciary Committee had to sign off on a report saying the bill passed before it could move forward. That allowed Speaker Frank McNulty to “read the bill across the desk.” That move allows the committee chairman to scheduled a hearing.

Earlier today, as the finger-pointing increase, McNulty warned his colleagues to be respectful in the waning days of the session.

“Do not disparage your colleagues. Do not question motives. Do not let rhetoric demean this House,” he said. “Rules will be followed.”

Democrats and Republicans also traded accusations over who would be blamed if the clock ran out.

House Majority Leader Amy Stephens noted that Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, introduced the bill on opening day on Jan. 11. The Senate passed it last week.

“Sen. Steadman held on to it for 100-plus days, then he lobs it over here and expects us to save it at the very end,” said Stephens, R-Monument.

But Steadman pointed out that House Republicans only Thursday introduced a new bill, for compensation for North Fork fire victims, with the expectation they can get it through two chambers by midnight Wednesday, when the session must end.

“We’re still in session, there’s still time. So what’s the problem?” Steadman said. “It would be a shame to use rules and procedures to defeat a bill that has made it this far.”

Nikkel said she has taken heat for vote, particularly among social conservatives. She said she pointed out the majority of people from Larimer County who contacted her supported the bill.

“It’s very disheartening,” said Majority Leader Amy Stephens of Monument, a leading critic of civil unions. “I don’t think any of us can understand her motivation or her reason.”

Nikkel said it’s not an issue she’s “passionate” about but she thought it was time. She voted against a similar bill last year.

“I think it was the right thing to do,” she said. “We’re all Coloradans, right?”

A local union president slammed by Donald Trump on Twitter stood his ground Thursday, maintaining the president-elect gave false hope to hundreds of workers by inflating the number of jobs being saved at a Carrier Corp. factory in Indianapolis.